I was shifting at 6700rpms at the track with the beehives. I think 7000rpms is the absolute limit I would go with the beehives and rightfully so because I think that other engine components are at risk at that point on stock internals. Don, you're sure rockin' the hell out of that motor right now. I'm glad it's lasting to put some others to shame. Currently, I think the meth injection and safer shift points on your setup are a lot to do with that. Goes to show, you can go fast and stay in one piece. 
I ran my times last year manually shifting, but that's only because I found out that the 6200 and 6400 rpm shift points are WAY too low. It was simply a crutch for having a chitty tune and I still couldn't shift to 7k. Technically, these cars should NOT be manually shifted.
With your Vortech setup, your shift points need to be up there. 7K rpms is the max. Even with my setup, I think that 6500 rpms is still short shifting. If you are at 6000-6200 rpms, you need to go higher. WAY higher.
I think that you'll also find that with a Cobra intake, you are going to be making more power in the upper range than you are with your stock manifold now and will benefit even more from the higher shift points. The forced induction is somewhat blanketing the manifold issue to a certain extent, but it's still there. Just a thought.
Between that and a better stall converter choice with higher shift points in the tune, low 12s would be very attainable I would think. And don't forget the driver mod.
you talk about alot of higher shift points and i know you've got the cobra intake, but how many miles are on your shortblock and have you done anything to it? how long have you been taking it to the track and/or just driving it like you stole it? from what ive read and seen your pushing the limits of the motor continually.what is the stock rev limiter at and where are the stock shift points ? when i was trying to find mine ( by driving hard) it shifted around 5800 at WOT. its weird because even at part throttle with the 3.27 rear it will chirp tires ( remember ive got a new tranny with like a 400 over stock tc.) and all the way to stock shift at WOT it will bark the tires, but ive moved the shift points to 300 rpm over stock ( thats the other thing, on the sniper you can change everything, but it goes in increments over stock you cant put it at 6200 rpm or whatever) but when i move it higher it wont make any noise. it seems, at the torque peak or somewheres in that range is where it shifts with the most 'noise'. i mean i have an open diff, but on some occasions the 1-2 shift will kick the car sideways a little, i love it and man does it surprise whomever i'm next to.the tach says about 6000 rpm and by screwing with it it seems like thats the best shift point. i cant shift manually because of hand controls, i dont have 3 hands and havent the ability to use my 3rd extremity to hold the wheel! ( although he does still work even though i cant feel it!)
